Pluggable Cable Channel

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are pluggable cable channels having internal cavities and passageway conduits to provide removable holding devices for data and or power cables in electrical and electronic encasements. Holding a data and or power cable in the pluggable cable channel allows different cables to be used in the same channel-way by changing the plug, thus assisting in the preservation of the enclosure investment and use for different applications. Some embodiments include a cavity to hold the end of the cable, a keyway to pass a length of the cable into the body conduit, and a routing channel in the body to exit the cable to a specific location in relationship to the plug, a set screw or clamp to secure the cable to a location in the plug body, and a body flange to attach the plug to the encasement. The flange may be angled to mate flush with perpendicular and non-perpendicular to the channel-way.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates primarily to the mechanical structure,routing, and attachment mechanisms of cable-based electrical conductorchannels from the outside into, inside of, inside of to the outside,through, and between, electronic and electrical equipment encasementsand designs in the art thereof. One or more singular electricalconductors of data, and in some implementation cases power, collectedinto a flexible bundle, often mated with a mechanical structure toprovide an electrical interface connection at each of the two ends ofthe conductor bundle, are herein referred to as a cable channel. Asolution that holds the cable channel and coverts a portion into a rigidplug is the basis for the invention of the Pluggable Cable Channel.

Industry standard electronic and electrical bus protocols, as well aswidely used proprietary bus protocols, differ greatly in their physicallayer implementations and mechanical designs. These bus protocolsinclude, however are not limited to: Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus(USB), High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Display Port (DP), agroup of audio bus protocols, other interface protocols, and other powercentric protocols. A myriad of differing cable channels are availableand required to support all of these interface technologies. Futurestandards based interface protocols, proprietary based bus interfaceprotocols, and the cable channels that will support these protocoltechnologies, hold the potential for modifications to ever-increasingplural conductors of data in their transmission channels, data ratescarried by these channels, and in some cases evolution of singular andplural power delivery conductor sets of increasing power controlcomplexity. The physical layer of these interface protocol technologiesmentioned, as well as others, manifest their implementations intovarying singular, sometimes plural, cable channel types. The cablechannel's bundle structure and the electrical interface where thechannel terminates the conductor bundle, must also, therefore, varygreatly. The ends of the cable channel, where the conductor bundle mayterminate into a mechanical structure designed to allow the channel toelectrically and mechanically interface to electronic or electricalequipment, is herein referred to as the terminus.

Flexibility in the use of different electrical interface protocols in asingular encasement mechanical architecture is gained with the pluggablecable channel invention. Industry standard and proprietary busprotocols, past, present, and future, and their resulting differingcable channel mechanical types and constructs, can be implemented into asingular pluggable and thus exchangeable, mechanical structure. A commonmechanical structure to connect various interface protocols for use witha myriad of different encasements for computers, electronic devices,electronic accessories, as well as power control and delivery systems isgained. A new option for data path and or power path design with thebenefit of extending the life of the mechanical design of encasements istherefore facilitated.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the pluggable cable channel provide a structured pathwayfor routing and securing conductors of data, as well as in many casespower, on the surface of, from the surface into, inside of, through,from a point inside to a point outside, and between a wide variety ofelectronic and electrical encasements. Often used in conjunction withcable channels, the invention holds a length of a cable channel bundleand its cable terminus, used to transmit as well as in most casesreceive, data as well as in most protocols power, to a structuredpathway. The pluggable cable channel can then be secured to anencasement channel-way. The invention provides a mechanical conduitstructure for securing the path of the cable channel while addingterminus location flexibility. In using the invention, cable channelscan be interchanged within a channel-way allowing the use of differentbus interface protocols within the same encasement mechanical design.Therefore, flexibility in choosing and changing the cable channelprotocol types, while having more flexibility over the encasementmechanical design and that of the electrical interface locations isenabled.

Present invention embodiments include a cable channel holding plug thatforms a conduit, via the plug body length and routing channel, betweenthe terminus cavity entry point and the routing channel exit point inthe plug body, thus forming a pluggable cable channel pathway. Thepluggable cable channel is used to provide a mechanical plug, as well asin some cases a holding structure, for a cable channel to be assembledinto, and then span a channel-way, from the entry or attachment point,to the electrical interface location. Terminus cavity dimensions insidethe pluggable cable channel body including but not limited to its width,length, and thickness, in conjunction with the location of the terminuscavity in the plug body, are varied to also support different cablechannel types and their differing mechanical terminus designs. Pluggablecable channel embodiment lengths may also be varied in support ofdiffering channel-way spanning distances. In addition, embodiments mayvary the body thickness in order to support higher conductor, and orcable channel counts supported by a singular pluggable cable channel.Pluggable cable channels may be made to be interchangeable within achannel-way, while the cable channels inside of the plug body may differin conductor count, protocol, and structure.

Other embodiments of the invention include the pluggable cable channelextending and securing the cable channel from the entry point into oneside of an encasement via its channel-way, to provide the cable channelelectrical interface in a position on another surface of the sameencasement. This application may be useful where a data channel isneeded between two encasements, or through one, and the pluggable cablechannel is used.

Still other embodiments of the invention more securely attach and hold acable channel terminus to the port interface on an external surface ofan encasement. In this application use case the terminus cavity in thebody of the pluggable cable holder and the attachment flange aretogether on one end which then attaches to the encasement surface. Thecable channel interface is then secured to the case via the pluggablecable channel flange or other attachment mechanism, typically usingscrews through the boreholes on the flange into threaded holes in theassociated equipment enclosure. These port attachment holes aretypically on either side horizontally of the port interface.

In other embodiments the pluggable cable channel may provide a routepath which originates from the inner regions of an encasement to aterminus location external to the encasement.

Still other embodiments may provide for a pluggable cable channel toplug into a port interface of an encasement and span the distance from aport interface to an electrical interface location internal to theequipment encasement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These figures listed here in this brief description of the accompanyingdrawings, are used in the detailed description section that follows. Thelisted figures include reference numbers to present embodiment detailsfor clarity. Where instances of a similar or identical embodimentfeature are detailed in follow on figures, use of the original referencenumber of the first entity instance in the previous drawings may bemade.

FIG. 1 is an abridged perspective view of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel invention, shown incombination with a cable channel assembled into the plug body lengththat may be used with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an abridged perspective view of one of many possible cablechannel types that may be used in conjunction with the invention.

FIG. 3 is an abridged perspective view of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel invention, shown incombination with a cable channel that may be used with the invention anda plug body length that has two terminus defined sockets.

FIG. 4 is an abridged perspective view of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel, illustrated to show some ofthe internal features in the plug body length of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an abridged top view of one of many possible embodiments ofthe Pluggable Cable Channel invention.

FIG. 6 is an abridged front cross section of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel invention.

FIG. 7 is an abridged side cross section of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel invention.

FIG. 8 is an abridged side cross section of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel. This present illustrationhighlights angled inner and outer surfaces.

FIG. 9 is an abridged perspective view of one of many possibleembodiments of the Pluggable Cable Channel. This present illustrationhighlights a cable channel that may be used with the invention,assembled into the present invention embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one of many possible embodiments of the pluggablecable channel 10. The plug body length 20 holds the cable channel fromthe terminus 17, to the end of the associated cable channel length 16.The cable channel length 16 is routed out of the plug body length viaexit of the routing channel 24. Embodiments of the invention may includeplug body lengths 20 rectangular in shape as the present embodimentillustrates, oval, other multi-sided or curved forms, some with keyedsurface features for fixing channel-way plug orientation. The pluggablecable channel embodiments hold the terminus 17 housing the terminuselectrical interface 11 to the cable channel, in the terminus definedsocket 33, at a predetermined distance, angle, and location, to the plugbody length 20 and the exit surface 71 of the terminus defined socket33. To mount a cable channel into the pluggable cable channel 10 plugbody length 20, a cable channel length 16 is passed into the plug bodylength 20 through the cable passing keyway 21. The cable channelterminus 17 is then placed into the terminus defined socket with theterminus bottom shoulder 15 being inserted first, then seated to theterminus defined socket floor 32. The channel compressing fasteningfeature 22 is then rotated to fix a length of the cable channel to apoint in the plug body length, or channel. The pluggable cable channelplug body length may then be inserted into an associated encasementchannel-way and fastened to the encasement and or channel-way via thebores holes 23 of the channel-way attachment flange 25.

FIG. 2 illustrates one of many cable channel types that can be used inconjunction with the pluggable cable channel. Key features of a cablechannel are the mechanical structure at the end herein called theterminus 17 that houses the electrical interface 11 to a cable channel,and the cable channel length 16. The terminus 17 and an electricalinterface 11 of a cable channel form one, of typically two, cablechannel ends that are connected together by the cable channel length.Key features of the terminus are the bottom shoulder 15, the top of theterminus 12, the thickness of the terminus 14, as well as the width ofthe terminus, which is not highlighted with a reference number

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the pluggable cable channel inwhich two terminus are held in one plug body length where 2 terminusdefined sockets are present, to create the electrical bus connectorassembly. The plug body length 20 holds the cable channel from themechanical structure of the first terminus 17, to the second terminus 17a at the opposite end of the plug body length. The cable channelterminus 17 a and the terminus defined socket 26 may be of similar ordifferent type than the first terminus 17. Assembling of a cable channelinto the electrical bus connector assembly is similar to assembly intothe pluggable cable channel. The cable channel length 16 is passed intothe terminus defined sockets through the cable channel passing keyway21. The first cable channel terminus 17 is then placed into the terminuscavity with the terminus bottom shoulder being inserted into the cavityfirst then seated to the terminus cavity floor and then the sameprocedure is applied to the second terminus 17 a. Then the length of thecable channel 16 is seated into the cable channel conduit 31. Thechannel compressing fastening feature 22 is the set via rotation inorder to hold a cable channel in place inside the pluggable cablechannel, or to a point in and or on the plug body length. The pluggablecable channel body then be may be inserted into an associated encasementchannel-way and fastened to the encasement and or channel-way via theboreholes 23 of the channel-way attachment flange 25.

FIG. 4 illustrates a three-dimensional perspective drawing of one ofmany possible pluggable cable channel embodiments seen from a viewthrough the cable channel passing keyway 21 into the plug body 20. Theangle of illustration of this present embodiment provides a view intothe pluggable cable channel's internal structure that may holds a cablechannel. In order to attach and hold a cable channel with the pluggablecable channel, the cable channel's length is inserted into the plug bodylength 20 via the cable passing keyway 21. The cable channel terminus isthen inserted down into the terminus defined socket 33 bottom shoulder15 first, until the terminus bottom shoulders seat against the terminusdefined socket floor 32. The cable channel length seats in the cablechannel conduit cavity 31, which conveys the cable from the terminusdefined socket into the cable routing channel 30. The length of thecable channel then exits the routing channel exit point 24 in thispresent embodiment. The channel compressing fastening feature 22 is thethen set via rotation in order to hold a cable channel in place.Alternatively the channel compressing fastening feature can be locatedin the cable routing channel 30 as shown, the cable channel conduitcavity 31, and or the terminus defined socket 33 of the plug body length20. If a channel compressing fastening feature is present as anembodiment option, the fastening feature is then set. When used inconjunction with a cable channel that has been assembled to thepluggable cable channel as described, the pluggable cable channel maythen be inserted into an encasement channel-way. Semi-permanentattachment may be accomplished via the use of fasteners applied throughthe bore holes of the body flange 25.

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of many possible invention embodimentslooking down past the inward surface 40 through the terminus definedsocket 33, down into the pluggable cable channel body, through the cablechannel conduit cavity 31, and down into the cable routing channel 30,then out the routing channel exit point of this present embodiment at24. As shown in this present embodiment, the channel-way attachmentflanges 25 that may attach the pluggable cable channel to an encasementare shown, as well as the channel-way attachment flange bore holes 23for fastening to an encasement fastening mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a front cross sectional view of one of many possible pluggablecable channel embodiments and provides further detail of the terminusdefined socket via view of the terminus defined socket back wall 33 aand 33 b, the cable channel passing keyway 21, the cable channel conduitcavity 31, and the cable routing channel 30. Once a cable channel isaffixed to the pluggable cable channel, the pluggable cable channel maybe inserted into an encasement channel-way and secured to the associatedencasement. In this embodiment case, machine screws through theproximally facing counter sunk boreholes 23 of the body flange 25 may beused, that may then be fastened into the associated encasement fasteningmechanism. The distance from the terminus cavity floor 32 to the top ofthe outside surface of the terminus cavity 50, at a terminus definedsocket, distal end of the body, along with the cavity width, thickness,and pluggable cable channel plug body length width and thickness, areadjusted on an embodiment implementation-to-implementation basis. Theseadjustments are made in order to accommodate different cable channelterminus sizes and electrical interface positions.

FIG. 7 shows a side cross section of one of many possible embodiments tofurther detail the internal structure of the pluggable cable channel andhow the internal cable channel conduit cavity 31 and the cable routingchannel 30 guide the cable channel while the cable channel terminus isheld in the terminus cavity 33. Once a cable channel length is passedthrough the cable passing keyway, the cable terminus is inserted intothe top of the terminus cavity opening 60 then the cable terminus bottomshoulders are seated to the terminus cavity floor 32. The clearance inthe terminus cavity 33 around the circumference of a cable channelterminus can either be made to fit the cable channel terminus tightly(loose-less) or with margin surrounding the cable terminus (loosey). Aloosey terminus cavity allows a slight movement of the cable terminusupon the insertion and removal of the attaching device's electricalinterface. Thus a loosey terminus cavity provides strain relief andaccommodates auto-alignment at the insertion and removal event when anauto aligning terminus is implemented at the electrical interface. Afterseating the cable channel terminus to the terminus defined socket cavityfloor 32, the cable length is routed through the cable channel conduitcavity 31 and into the cable routing channel 30. The cable routingchannel 30 angle to the body conduit 31 can vary on an embodimentimplementation to implementation basis from being perpendicular to thebody conduit, to being in line with the body conduit, depending on theorientation requirements of the cable channel upon exit of the pluggablecable routing channel. The routing channel 30 can exit the cable channelto a location internal to the associated encasement, or externally tothe encasement by assistance of varying the angle of the routingchannel. Once the cable channel is seated to the pluggable cable channelthe channel compressing fastening feature 22 can be set when implementedin an embodiment. Some embodiments have an outward surface 61 and aninward surface 40 that are typically 90 degrees in angle, perpendicular,to the body length 20.

FIG. 8 Still other embodiments of the pluggable cable channel may beused in an encasement where the channel-way angle away from theencasement attaching surface plane is other than 90 degrees,perpendicular. In these embodiment implementations, the outward surface70, and or inward surface 71, may thus have an other than 90 degreesangle, in relationship to the plug body length 20 and attachingencasement surface plane, in order to accommodate a flush finish to theencasement surface, or the body of an encasement attaching to theelectrical interface. Some embodiments may have mechanical inwardsurface 71 preparations of concavity and or keyed structures, inaddition to the described angled surface at the terminus exit opening60, for embodiment features that deterministically and or selectivelymate with the surface of the attaching encasement and or othermechanical structure that houses the attaching electrical interface.When used in conjunction with a cable channel assembled to the body andseated in the routing channel 30, a channel compressing fasteningfeature may be applied through the borehole 22 and serve as both a guideor a clamping mechanisms- to hold a length of the cable channel inplace.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the inventionshowing further detail when a cable channel is used in conjunction withthe pluggable cable channel. To start the assembly process for thisembodiment, the cable channel length 16 is passed into the cable channelconduit cavity 31, via the cable passing keyway 21, of the plug bodylength 20. Next the terminus 17 bottom shoulder is seated to theterminus defined socket floor, and the cable channel length is seatedinto the cable routing channel with the length exiting the routingchannel exit point 24. When used, the channel compressing fasteningfeature 22 is then rotated and set to hold the cable channel into place.In the present embodiment the shaft of this particular channelcompressing fastening feature 80 performs both functions of holding andguiding the cable channel length into the cable routing channel, andclamping a point on the length of the cable channel to the point in thecable routing channel by applying clamping pressure between the channelcompressing fastening feature shaft and the routing channel bottom wall.Other embodiments may apply this clamping function with other clampingmechanisms. When the pluggable cable channel is ready to be insertedinto a channel-way it is typically applied terminus end first and slidinto the channel-way until the channel-way attachment flange 25 touchesthe attaching surface. In this present embodiment screws are applied tothe channel-way attachment flange proximally facing counter sunkboreholes and threaded into the encasement. Another feature of thispresent embodiment is the concavity if the inward surface 71 a allowinga close mating of encasements with a curved surface. The electricalinterface 11 is then presented in a stationary position.

The methods of manufacturing the pluggable cable channel include,however are not limited to, CNC milling for limited editions of theembodiments, metal injection molding (MIM), and plastic injectionmolding. The channel way and fastening mechanism of the encasementdesign, into which the pluggable cable channel is inserted and attached,provide structural support to the length of the pluggable cable channelbody, which can be taken into account for determining the dimensionalstrength requirements of the final production manufacturing materialset. Characteristics of the attaching electrical interface such as theattaching interface being stationary or removable, the insertion forcerequired to plug into the interface, vibration during operation, anglesof engagement, encasement grounding path requirements, thermal dynamicsof the operating environment, total cycles during lifetime, as well asall possible angles of removal, are all taken into account in order toselect the material set and terminus cavity options to be used perinvention application into one of the many possible embodiments.

With the Pluggable Cable Channel as described here in the detaileddescription of the invention, and supported by the drawings FIG. 1-FIG.9, a conduit plug that converts a standard electronic cable into apluggable data channel for extended reach and secure fastening toelectronic devices has been created.

Those skilled in the art will find the present invention capable ofbeing embodied in other specific forms without changing the basiccharacteristics thereof. A number of specific embodiments have beendisclosed and therefore with this knowledge, now a person skilled in theart can conceive through review of this disclosure, other embodimentpossibilities by combining features of one embodiment with another,subtracting embodiment features, as well as separating them. Theseequivalent embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pluggable cable channel device comprising: a) Abody length b) A terminus cavity in the body c) A routing channel cavityin the body d) A conduit cavity in the body length that joins theterminus cavity to the routing channel cavity. e) A keyway along thelength of the body for passing a length of a cable into the bodycavities and conduit.
 2. The pluggable cable channel device set forth inclaim 1 wherein a flange on the body is present that is wider than thebody.
 3. The pluggable cable channel device with a flange present as setforth in claim 2 wherein one or more boreholes thorough the flange arepresent.
 4. The pluggable cable channel device with a flange present asset forth in claim 2 wherein one or more threaded boreholes through thebody flange are present.
 5. The pluggable cable channel device set forthin claim 1 wherein the terminus cavity width, and thickness are greaterthan the corresponding dimensions of the cable channel terminus that maybe used in conjunction with the invention.
 6. The pluggable cablechannel device set forth in claim 1 wherein the terminus cavity width,and thickness are the same as, with enough clearance to friction fit,the cable channel terminus that may be used in conjunction with theinvention.
 7. The pluggable cable channel device set forth in claim 1with an outside surface, that may include a body flange, angled at 90degrees to the direction of the pluggable cable channel body.
 8. Thepluggable cable channel device set forth in claim 1 with an outsidesurface, that may include a body flange, angled between 89 to 60 degreesin relation to the direction of the pluggable cable channel body.
 9. Thepluggable cable channel device set forth in claim 1 with an outsidesurface, that may include a body flange, and the opposite end of thepluggable cable channel body, angled in parallel, to between 89 to 60degrees in relation to the direction of the pluggable cable channelbody.
 10. The pluggable cable channel device set forth in claim 1 with aset screw or other guiding mechanism in one or more of the body cavitiesto be used for holding a length of a cable channel to a point in thepluggable cable channel body in order to retain a cable channel lengthin one or more cavities or conduits in the pluggable cable channel. 11.The pluggable cable channel device set forth in claim 1 with a set screwor other clamping mechanism in one or more of the body cavities forfastening a length of the cable channel to one or more points in thepluggable cable channel body.
 12. The pluggable cable channel device setforth in claim 1 with a concaved inward surface at of exit the terminuscavity.
 13. The pluggable cable channel device set forth in claim 1 witha keyed inward surface at of exit the terminus cavity.
 14. The pluggablecable channel device set forth in claim 1 with a concaved and keyedinward surface at of exit the terminus cavity.
 15. An electrical busconnector assembly comprising: a) A pluggable cable channel. b) A cablechannel including a terminus and a length the cable channel assembledinto the pluggable cable channel device.
 16. The bus connector assemblyset forth in claim 15 wherein the pluggable cable channel contains twoor more terminus cavities.
 17. The bus connector assembly set forth inclaim 15 consisting of a pluggable cable channel with two or more bodylengths.
 18. The bus connector assembly set forth in claim 15 whereinthere are two or more body flanges on the pluggable cable channel bodylengths.
 19. The bus connector assembly set forth in claim 15 whereinthe cable channel assembled into the pluggable cable channel has two ormore cable channel terminus.